Peter Schutz

Peter Schutz was born to Jewish parents in Berlin, Germany. The rise of the Nazi party led to the family fleeing to Havana, Cuba in 1937. In March 1939 they emigrated to Chicago, Illinois. Schutz grew up in Chicago, and received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

After graduation, Schutz worked as an engineer at Caterpillar Tractor in Peoria, Illinois for 15 years. He left Caterpillar for Cummins Engine, where he served 11 years, initially in corporate strategic planning, and then 8 years as vice president responsible for sales and service of truck engines in the U.S. and Canada. During this time he worked with freight hauling companies to improve their profitability, instituting driver performance measures. Profits surged, and the Teamsters invited Schutz to speak at their 1976 convention. When Cummins management questioned his decision to accept the appearance, he left the company. In 1978 he took over the Deutz Engine Division of Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz.